Job Description
Grist is seeking an Indigenous Affairs Fellow to join our Editorial team.
With the mentorship and support of Grist’s editorial staff, the Indigenous Affairs Fellow will report on the connections between Indigenous communities and the environment, and the impact of climate change and policy, including everything from foodways to treaty law, #LandBack to UNDRIP. The ideal candidate will write stories that reveal the unique relationships Indigenous people have with the world, and climate change, while recognizing the difference between journalism and anthropology.
The United Nations reports that Indigenous peoples represent 5 percent of the global population but protect nearly 80 percent of the world's remaining biodiversity. With threats to lands, territories, and resources in the U.S. and abroad, this fellowship will be designed to create eye-opening journalism that explores the intersections of capitalism, environmental degradation, climate impacts, climate policy, and Indigenous self-determination, recognizing that colonialism operates across borders.
This fellowship is a full-time, remote position and will run for 12 months, beginning March 1, 2023 and ending February 29, 2024. Applications without both a resume and cover letter will not be considered.
THE ANNUAL BASE SALARY FOR THIS POSITION IS $50,000. Grist is based in Seattle, but this job doesn’t have to be. We have staff around the country. This position is represented by Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild Local 37082 (“Grist NewsGuild”).
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Identify and pitch ideas for timely and solutions-oriented stories on Indigenous people and culture and the environment
Write 2 to 3 stories — including quick news and analysis pieces — each week
Assist with editorial duties including research, web production, and fact-checking
Pitch, report, and write one enterprise/feature story by the end of the fellowship
Contribute periodically to larger projects as part of a team
Engage actively in meetings, such as story brainstorms and fellow trainings
Qualifications
The mission of the Grist fellowship program is to help underrepresented, early-career climate journalists gain a stronger foothold in our industry. Our definition of “early-career” includes but is not limited to: journalists who are relatively new to the environmental/climate beat, freelancers who have not had full-time newsroom experience, recent journalism school graduates, scientists without formal journalism training but with strong writing clips and content knowledge, and developing local reporters who are seeking experience with a national news outlet.
Other requirements
Four-year degree, or equivalent professional experience
Successful candidates must demonstrate strong cultural competency in Indigenous issues and culture
Strong understanding of Grist’s brand
Demonstrated experience in research or reporting
Demonstrated comfort with writing on deadline
Ability to make a full-time, 12-month commitment
Must be legally authorized to work in the US
Living in the United States for the duration of the fellowship
Available during standard work hours in their U.S. time zone
Additional Information
BENEFITS
Full health benefits coverage, including medical, vision, and dental for both employee and eligible dependents
12 months of solid newsroom experience, a body of clips, and fluency in climate and environmental justice issues
Company laptop for use during time at Grist
Access to $600 in educational funds per year related to their professional development
Networking with other members of the editorial team, including Grist’s in-person all-staff meeting
Weekly mentorship via our Newsroom Training Series, which covers a range of skills, from filing FOIA requests to audio/video script-writing to battling imposter syndrome
Meaningful integration into the workings of a busy and exciting nonprofit media organization
The Indigenous Affairs Fellow is a member of Grist’s collective bargaining unit
Applicants must submit each of the following application materials.
Resume
Cover letter. We are looking for a succinct, thoughtful cover letter that explains what you are passionate about when it comes to climate reporting, gives examples of environmental justice-focused story ideas you might want to pursue, and reasons you are a good fit for the Grist fellowship program — and this fellowship in particular.
Links to two news writing samples. These can appear within or appended to the end of your cover letter. Writing samples can be newspaper or magazine clips, blog posts, or unpublished pieces. We will gladly accept links to multimedia samples (video, illustration, infographic, podcast, etc.) but cannot review original files. If you have a GitHub account you’d like to show us, please provide a link to your profile.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE READ
Cover letters must be uploaded as a separate attachment via Smart Recruiter. Please include “Indigenous Affairs Fellow” in the document title. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please submit applications by 11:59 PT on Monday, December 19, 2022.
No phone calls, please.
_Cultivating an inclusive staff is central to Grist’s focus on advancing equity. We’re interested in hearing from people who can work with diverse colleagues of varied experience. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Grist is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. _